KU News Release

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas Pharmacy Residency Program has been named best in the nation by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The society presented KU with its 2009 Pharmacy Residency Excellence Award on Dec. 5 in Las Vegas.

The award recognizes a combined postgraduate education/pharmacy residency program in health-system pharmacy administration. At KU, residents gain hands-on work experience at KU Hospital while completing their master’s degrees in pharmacy practice. KU’s Department of Pharmacy Practice and KU Hospital administer the program jointly.

This is the first time KU has applied for the award. All 14 residents currently in the program and more than a dozen graduates joined faculty to accept the award, the only one of its kind in the nation.

Rick Couldry, clinical assistant professor of pharmacy practice, said KU’s program earned the top honors for its excellence in teaching methodology, innovative programs and efforts to inspire pharmacy residents to become leaders in the profession. The award selection committee also pointed to the program’s 39-year history of producing pharmacists that have achieved excellence in their field and who have held leadership positions in all aspects of pharmacy, including clinical, administrative and academic settings at the local and national levels.

The honor validates the program’s mission, Couldry said.

“This award serves as a reminder to everyone who has gone through the program and those in it now how important this work is,” Couldry said. “We wanted to remind everyone of this and instill pride in the program.”

KU’s Pharmacy Residency Program was established in 1970 by Harold N. Godwin, associate dean and professor of pharmacy practice.